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Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has further solidified its control over SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) after businessman-turned-politician Leandro Leviste completed a P13.76-billion share sale.

Leviste, son of Sen. Loren Legarda, sold 10.8 billion SPNEC shares to Meralco’s MGen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen) via a block sale through the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday.

The transaction involves 5.8 billion and five billion shares sold for P1.2873 and P1.25 apiece, respectively, which effectively hiked MGreen’s stake in SPNEC to 69.26 percent from 53.7 percent.

Leviste still owns 18.66 percent of SPNEC’s common shares following the block trades.

The share sale follows the maturity of the exchangeable note facility agreements between Leviste’s Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. and MGreen executed in September 2024 and March 2025.

Leviste earlier announced plans to divest his shares in SPNEC after being elected as congressman of the first district of Batangas in May.

Proceeds from the divestment are expected to reach over P34 billion.

The Meralco Group took control of SPNEC two years ago after initially investing P15.9 billion to fund the construction of the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage project.

Straddling the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, the P200-billion MTerra Solar consists of a 3,500-megawatt solar farm equipped with a 4,500-MW-hour battery energy storage component.

In March, the Meralco Group secured a $600-million super deal with UK-based investment house Actis, providing much-needed financial muscle to MTerra Solar.

A P150-billion loan was also sealed with BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank, Security Bank Corp., China Banking Corp. and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. to finance the project.

Once completed, MTerra Solar will dispatch its generation output through a power supply agreement with Meralco, the country’s largest energy utility serving over eight million customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Any excess energy generated is intended to be offered to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the centralized venue for power trading.

The Cebu provincial government is moving to accelerate the completion of pending reclamation projects and revise its existing land-use policies to attract new investments while aligning with national laws, officials said.

Provincial Administrator Joseph Felix Mari ‘Ace’ Durano said the review of Cebu’s reclamation ordinance and property assessment framework is part of a broader strategy to make the province more competitive for industrial and commercial development.

‘Before the current version of the ordinance, there were three compliance options – giving 10 percent of the area, paying the agreed value, or swapping for land of equal value,’ Durano explained. ‘Now, only the actual land turnover is allowed, and that has become a hindrance for investors.’

The existing ordinance requires developers to cede 10 percent of usable reclaimed land to the provincial government, a provision that has discouraged investors who need full site utilization for operations.

Cebu is now working with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and private developers to finalize amendments that would bring local policies in line with national rules while expediting stalled reclamation projects.

Durano who is a former tourism secretary, the provincial government is not promoting large-scale reclamation indiscriminately but recognizes its importance in addressing Cebu’s scarcity of developable land.

‘If we want to attract more investments, we need to create more usable land – just like Singapore and Hong Kong. With proper regulation, industrial growth and environmental protection can coexist,’ he said.

Durano identified at least three pending reclamation projects in Cebu – the Mingmori project in Minglanilla, the Ione project in Cordova, and the planned reclamation in Balamban to support the expansion of shipbuilding company Tsuneishi.

Alongside the ordinance review, the province is reassessing property values following complaints from business groups about rising real estate taxes. Preliminary results indicate lower valuations for industrial and agricultural properties, which could ease fiscal pressure on enterprises.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has directed that no increase in real property tax rates will be implemented in 2026.

The provincial government has also reactivated the Local Board of Assessment Appeals to resolve disputes involving property appraisals.

What started as a dream for the Flyff community has now become one of the biggest annual esports and community celebrations in the Philippines. The Flyff World Championship (FWC) has grown into a global stage where guilds fight for honor, rewards and pride-not just in the game, but as part of a passionate worldwide community.

Last year’s FWC 2024 Grand Final at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall was a true testament to this passion. Thousands of Filipino fans lined up around the venue, cheering for their favorite guilds as Team Astral and other contenders clashed in unforgettable battles.

This year, the legacy continues. FWC 2025 is set to happen on October 18, at Ayala Malls By the Bay in Manila, with an even bigger stage, a prize pool of over US$110,000 (P6.3 million), and a stronger lineup of competitors.

Just before the clash for glory begins, the stage will ignite with an electrifying performance by KAIA, setting the perfect hype for the ultimate showdown!

FWC 2025 Manila’s event highlights

Gala Lab (CEO Kim Hyunsu), developer of the HTML5 MMORPG Flyff Universe, Wemade Connect (CEO Lee Hodae), the publisher, and local channel/marketing partner PlayPark (Quach Dong Quang) announced that the Flyff Universe World Championship (FWC) 2025 Grand Final will be held on Saturday, October 18, at Ayala Malls By the Bay in Manila. The tournament has expanded to 10 teams.

Key highlights also include upgraded on-site experience, official merchandise store, giveaway events and sponsor activation booths; special stage performance by popular P-Pop group KAIA; and limited-edition gifts for VIPs, early-bird and first-come ticket holders

This year’s Grand Final kicks off with the pre-party on October 17, giving fans a chance to directly engage with the developers through talks and Q and A sessions for a deeper look into the game.

Lee Hodae, CEO of Wemade Connect, commented: ‘We’ve prepared an even more thrilling tournament, stage production, broadcast, and fan activities compared to last year. Our goal is to create a global-local festival that both local fans and global viewers can enjoy together.’

Jeffren Lumbo, the rookie from Sarangani, fired a gutsy two-under 70 under steady drizzle to hold off Ryan Monsalve halfway through the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic in Davao yesterday.

The 29-year-old Lumbo carded a 35-35 round highlighted by four birdies, including three straight from No. 10 for a seven-under 137, two strokes ahead of his closest pursuer.

Monsalve took the challenger’s role with a two-day total of 139 after an impressive bogey-free 68. Russell Bautista also carded a 68 for solo third at 140 in the P3.5 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Meanwhile, Sarah Ababa scrambled for a one-under 71 to surge past erstwhile leader Chanelle Avaricio and a charging Florence Bisera in the penultimate round of ladies play.

Counting her opening 69, Ababa assembled a four-under 140.

It’s now been a little more than a year since the Ramon Ang-led consortium took over the operations and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sept. 14, 2024, and what a year it has been for the airport operator.

From my own experience, I’ve noticed some real changes, mostly translating to a better passenger experience at the airport – faster drop-off times at the arrival and departure bays, less grid lock at the usual entry and exit points to and from the gateway and in Terminal 3, a designated area for ride-hailing services.

There are still long queues though, especially in T1 and T3, but these are mostly at the immigration counter, and congestion may even worsen this long Undas weekend but so far, the improvements are already noticeable.

Just last Tuesday, I flew out again from NAIA T1 and I continued to experience changes. For instance, there is an ongoing construction at the parking lot fronting the terminal. I’m not sure what kind of transformation will happen but hopefully, it will be for the better.

At the departure bay when I arrived, I also noticed that traffic was smooth, with drop off time kept to a minimum.

Our plane to Tokyo was also able to depart on time.

These are just some of the changes I saw when I flew out of the country last Tuesday, although it’s been months since I last traveled so I’m not sure how consistent NAIA is in implementing these improvements.

Of course, I can only speak from my experience as someone who has traveled under different NAIA eras.

But so far, based on my trips, I can really say that NAIA is now a better airport. It is still a far cry from Singapore’s famed Changi Airport, Japan’s Narita or other efficient gateways across the globe, but it is a noticeable upgrade from NAIA of decades past.

In its report on its first year of operations, New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the San Miguel Corp.-led consortium that now operates the airport, shared a number of measures and changes it has successfully put in place.

These include 11,820 new chairs, 2,500 baggage trolleys, 21 new air-conditioning units and chillers and upgraded WiFi – from 1G to 10G.

All escalators, walkalators and elevators are now operational, while 34 new boarding bridges have been ordered, NNIC said.

‘Other key initiatives include the installation of 95 percent of 586 new Flight Information Display Systems for real-time updates under NAIA’s new quiet terminal concept, which minimizes background noise and relies on digital displays for flight information; the deployment of 517 biometric-enabled passenger processing units across terminals for faster check-in, boarding and security screening and the ongoing installation of 78 Immigration e-gates and 113 verification desks, with Phase 1 targeted for completion by December 2025.’

NNIC opened a dedicated OFW lounge in Terminal 3 to serve nearly half a million overseas Filipino workers, with a second lounge set to open at Terminal 1.

It also implemented operational changes, not normally seen by passengers, including reconfiguring aircraft parking stands and removing abandoned aircraft which freed up valuable space for smoother airside operations.

This enabled NAIA to add new domestic and international routes with 47 airline partners.

Between terminals, NNIC also improved passenger mobility by providing a fleet of 20 new shuttle buses, which carry more than half a million travelers between terminals.

More passengers

These changes paved the way for more passengers to travel.

Since taking over NAIA on Sept. 14, 2024, up to Sept. 13, 2025, NAIA welcomed 51.7 million passengers, 2.9 million more than the same period the year before, marking a six percent increase.

The airport also handled a total of 283,771 flights.

In terms of on-time performance, NAIA posted a record high of 92.12 percent in a single day – the highest ever recorded in the airport’s history.

Moving forward, NNIC is preparing to roll out a new facial recognition system that would enable travelers to soon check in, drop bags, clear security and board flights using just their face.

Adjustment in terminal fees

As a result of the changes and to enable the consortium to sustain the gains, NNIC has raised NAIA’s terminal fees, the first adjustment in 20 years.

The increase – set by the government with the Asian Development Bank as adviser – will put NAIA’s rates on the same level as other local airports such as in Cebu and Iloilo and will remain among the lowest in Asia.

Tycoon Ramon Ang is proud of what his team has achieved in terms of improving NAIA.

‘Operating an airport the size and scale of NAIA will always be demanding. But what this first year has shown is that with teamwork, discipline and the dedication of our people, real change is possible,’ Ang said.

Together with the government and their partners, Ang said, NNIC is committed to sustaining these gains to deliver ‘a truly world-class NAIA.’

It will not happen overnight. It will take years, perhaps even decades.

It does not help that some quarters, likely backed by old timers at NAIA, are trying to block the NNIC-led changes and are pushing to scrap the NAIA privatization.

This, however, is certainly regressive. What we should be pushing for is to make sure that Ang and NNIC deliver on their promises, through audits, specific performance indicators and commitments set in their contracts.

The promise is to transform NAIA into a world-class airport. Let’s make sure they deliver.

As the global creator economy continues to redefine industries from entertainment to tourism, CreatorWeek Macao 2025 gathered top content leaders, strategists and digital creators around the world to share insights on how creators can sustain careers, form global collaborations and shape culture through storytelling.

Held in different luxury properties in Macau from October 24 to 28, CreatorWeek Macao 2025 was jointly organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and international media production company Branded.

Part of the week-look event were the CreatorWeek Conference and Creator Academy, which featured an international lineup of speakers-from Google Greater China’s CMO Ben Wong, Meta’s Head of Industry Benny Chu, and MrBeast VP of Strategy Evan DeFilippis, to Gold House co-founder Bing Chen, photographer Hudson Matter, who discussed different aspects of content creation and how creators can thrive amid evolving social media trends and changing audience behavior.

Filipino creators like Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.Ap, funk-pop band Lola Amour, and singer-vlogger Mikey Bustos were also part of the event, sharing their experiences on how Filipino creativity and storytelling continue to find audiences around the world.

Building a sustainable creator future

As short-form video and influencer marketing mature into billion-dollar industries, CreatorWeek Macao 2025 underscored a shift toward sustainability and skill-building within the creator space.

The event also reminded participants that success in content creation now demands not just virality, but professionalism, collaboration and cultural fluency.

Also among the hot topics at the conference was the rise of AI-generated creators-and what that means for real people making content. Speakers agreed that while AI can mimic trends and even personalities, it struggles to replicate something fundamental: human experience.

The consensus was clear. What sets creators apart is their ability to build genuine communities and connect through lived moments.

As one panelist put it, ‘You can’t fake a live event or capture yourself in your element through AI. What proves you’re real is when your audience connects not just to your content, but to you.’

Another takeaway: the more creators show up in person and engage with their audience, the harder it becomes for AI to compete. Algorithms can generate clips, but they can’t recreate relationships, which is where human creators continue to hold the edge.

The CreatorWeek Conference explored topics such as cross-cultural storytelling, the convergence of Chinese and Western social media cultures, and the evolving relationship between creators, brands and platforms.

Meanwhile, the Creator Academy offered workshops and mentoring sessions for local content creators and new media professionals-from managing short-form video channels and cultivating audiences to building authentic brand partnerships.

Macau’s new role as a creative bridge

Beyond the panels and keynotes, CreatorWeek also spilled out into Macau’s streets.

The city’s East-meets-West character and growing media scene made it an ideal setting for the event-positioning Macau as a creative bridge for collaboration between China and the rest of the world.

‘The creator economy has emerged as a thriving new industry that teems with business value,’ said MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. ‘In Macau, content creators from around the world can come into China, while creators from Greater China can go out into the world through meaningful exchange.’

According to de Senna Fernandes, Macau is reinventing itself with creativity on all fronts, as part of its ‘1+4’ economic diversification strategy.

This strategy refers to Macau’s move to develop a more sustainable and diverse economic base by continuing its focus on its core tourism and leisure sector, while simultaneously developing four key emerging industries: big health, modern financial services, high and new technology and MICE including sports and culture.

During the week, 20 local ambassadors were paired with international and Greater China creators-including the Stokes Twins, Japanese YouTuber ISSEI, fitness coach Will Liu, and MasterChef finalist Nick DiGiovanni-to explore the city’s neighborhoods, food and creative communities.

Their collaborations produced a wave of new travel and lifestyle content spotlighting Macau’s mix of heritage, cuisine and modern vibrancy, showcasing how local tourism can benefit from creator-led storytelling.

For many local creators, the experience offered a rare chance to learn production techniques and strategies directly from global counterparts, a small but significant step in expanding Macau’s creator landscape.

The Red Bull Half Court National Finals ignited the court, capping off an epic Philippine tour by uniting top-tier teams from Davao, Cebu and Manila alongside WildCards for a one-day, all-or-nothing 3-on-3 basketball.

Last weekend at Parqal, Aseana City, the nation’s fiercest 3-on-3 squads unleashed electrifying plays under Red Bull Half Court’s high-octane ruleset, scrapping for glory. Played under a 12-second shot clock, with matches capped at 10 minutes or first to 21 points, every possession carried weight, demanding sharp decision-making, tight defense, and quick execution.

But the National Final wasn’t just about competition – it was a full-on streetball celebration. The tourney was hosted by MC Pao Avila, who helped elevate the event with his insight and charm. The Philippine All Stars lit up the stage with a high-energy dance performance, while Stance Philippines rolled in with a slick Street Car Showcase, turning heads with custom rides. Plus, the HoopJeep partnership added a mobile court bringing streetball culture to life. Fans got in on the action with their own contests. Like the Dunk Competition judged on creativity and sheer wow factor. While the Two-Point Shootout, where sharpshooters fired clutch shots in a 60-second frenzy, lighting up the sidelines with every swish. These moments captured the event’s unique blend of basketball, culture, and community energy.

Taho Story brought relentless hustle and razor-sharp precision, battling through a fierce elimination gauntlet to outplay Fit’ N’ Grind in a clutch 9-5 showdown, claiming the men’s national championship throne.

As they prepare for the World Finals in Dubai, the team expressed their pride and determination to showcase the heart and fighting spirit of Filipino basketball players. ‘It’s overwhelming – for us to be representing the country. Keep on supporting us, it will for sure motivate us to keep bringing our A-game against other teams,’ they said after the win.

Members of Uratex Dream pose with their ceremonial champion’s boarding pass.

Uratex Dream lit up the women’s bracket, outshining rival team Uratex Tibay in a heart-pounding, down-to-the-wire final, sealing the deal with a 22-8 triumph in the final match.

As a returning team from last year’s Red Bull Half Court World Finals, they shared their excitement and determination heading into Dubai. ‘We’re excited to represent the Philippines on the world stage. We’ll do our best to earn the Championship Title in Dubai,’ they exclaimed.

Rally behind Taho Story and Uratex Dream as they carry the flag on the global stage at the Red Bull Half Court World Final in Dubai from November 27 to 29. Catch all the action by visiting the official Red Bull website and following Red Bull Philippines on social media.

Filipino typhoon survivors are taking their case to an international court in the United Kingdom, suing British oil giant Shell for personal injury and property damages after Typhoon Odette killed hundreds and displaced millions in 2021.

This would be the first climate-related case that the Philippines will be filing since the International Court of Justice ruled in July that vulnerable nations have the right to demand reparations from major polluting nations or companies.

According to Greenpeace Philippines, 67 Filipinos will be filing the civil lawsuit to seek climate justice for relatives and loved ones who lost their lives, homes, or were severely injured when Odette ravaged the country.

“The claimants, residents from Visayas, are holding the company accountable for tis historic carbon emissions which have worsened extreme weather events like Odette and deepened the suffering of Filipino communities,” the statement read.

There were around 405 people killed and 1,400 injured. The total damages recorded for Odette alone had also reached P47.8 billion.

Why Shell though? The survivors believe that for one, the oil giant is one of the leading energy providers in the world that has contributed to a large volume of carbon dioxide emissions while gaining a growing profit, thereby worsening the effects of climate change.

One of the claimants, Trixy Elle, said she could only think of her children’s future. Despite Shell being a huge firm, she stressed how unfair it is for families like hers to be forced to bear the brunt of climate change even when they are likely the smallest contributors.

“So bakit kami ang nagdurusa?” she asked.. (So why are we the ones suffering?)

Shell has been responsible for 41 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions for more than two centuries already, according to think tank InfluenceMap’s Carbon Majors. This is roughly 2% of the total global emissions recorded.

The firm’s earnings have also boomed, with a $16.5 billion profit reported in 2024. Even after Odette pummeled through the Philippines, mostly Visayas, Shell earned record-breaking profits amounting to $40 billion.

While victims do recognize that the case they will file would face serious challenges, given that Shell is a key player in the fuel industry, claimant Annie Casquejo said what matters is that they tried and exhausted all means possible.

“Manalo man o matalo, at least mayroon kaming ginawa kahit maliit lang kami. Hindi lang basta pera ang pinag-uusapan dito, pati na rin hustisya,” she said.

(Win or loses, at least we did something even if we’re just small people. It’s not only a matter of money but also about justice.)

Greg Lascelles, who serves as the victims’ legal representative, explained that the lawsuit is also crucial to expose the “far-reaching and direct impacts” that global oil and gas companies have on vulnerable communities.

“The culpability of those who have contributed, and earned the most from this planetary catastrophe is long overdue,” said senior legal fellow Ryan Roset of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center.

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice Visayas coordinator Estela Vasquez pointed out that the lawsuit, which demands reparations as a civil case, is actually just a “fraction of what they owe for their climate atrocities.”

“This rotten system proliferates injustice and environmental death. We are holding them accountable and making them pay for their sins against the people and planet,” she said.

This case, Vasquez added, would set a “clear precedent” for communities who suffer the most that they are far from powerless.

“Filipino Odette survivors are leaders in this fight for justice by taking on one of the biggest climate polluters in the world for the damages they experienced due to Odette,” Greenpeace Philippines climate campaigner Jefferson Chua said. “This is a fight for their future.”

A first-of-its-kind livelihood hub aimed at, among others, accelerating AI-enabled earning opportunities for Filipinos has been officially launched in the country.

The Asenso Center in Marikina Center was inaugurated by Grab Philippines and Move It in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). It is being touted as the first livelihood hub of its kind in Grab’s Southeast Asia network.

The one-hectare facility is designed to elevate and professionalize the onboarding of platform workers and entrepreneurs, fast-track AI-enabled earning opportunities for Filipinos, and streamline access to social protection programs via guided enrollment with SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth, complemented by micro-insurance and welfare protection from Chubb and AXA.

‘Grab is one of the Philippines’ most mature platform-work ecosystems, and that gives us a precise, ground-level understanding of what Filipino platform workers and micro-entrepreneurs truly need to thrive. The Asenso Center turns that insight into action. It opens dignified, digitally powered livelihoods, equips our partners with practical AI co-pilots, and helps families convert opportunity into income at scale,’ said Grab Philippines Country Managing Director Ronald Roda.

For his part, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda underscored the importance of digital enablement in the agency’s bid to create eight million digital livelihoods.

‘Sa bawat byahe nyo, may anak na kakain, may tuition na babayaran, may medical bills na masosolve at yan po ang kinabukasan. Ito po yung tunay na pagbabago – yung mga frontline for the digital economy. Ito na po ang Bagong Pilipinas. Karamihan ng mga serbisyo digital na. Ang kailangan na lang natin ay I-spread ito,’ said Aguda.

Grab said the Asenso Center is poised to support the company’s commitment to generating 500,000 livelihood opportunities for the Philippine government. The firm said it has already delivered new livelihoods equivalent to 73% of its five-year target, putting the company on track to exceed its goal ahead of schedule. Merchant participation is also rising, with the number of Community Merchants up 30% year on year as more local entrepreneurs formalize online.

Additionally, the facility embeds AI enablement into the growth pathways of partners, offering mobile-first tools like Merchant AI Assistant and AI Driver Companion, and pairing these with merchant and driver training to ensure that they can leverage these tools responsibly and safely.

Merchants can use a mobile-first ‘Merchant AI Assistant’, which is an AI co-pilot that aids in day-to-day tasks such as setting up seasonal promotions, automating menu set-ups, producing ready-to-post marketing content, and surfacing demand insights for inventory and staffing. Drivers, on the other hand, access an in-app ‘AI Driver Companion’ for real-time route optimization and demand hotspot guidance – reducing idle time and lifting overall earnings.

Among those leveraging the Merchant AI Assistant is Marvin Catimbang, chief operating officer of Coffee Blanc and a GrabFood 5-Star Eats Merchant-Partner.

‘The Merchant AI Assistant is an incredible day-to-day help for us, especially in tasks previously done manually, such as generating descriptions for our menu items or updating our store hours. It’s a handy partner for MSMEs like us. The AI assistant has also been very helpful in analyzing consumer insights, which is critical to the growth of our business.”

‘Used responsibly, AI becomes a force multiplier – an exponent on every hour of work online,’ Roda added. ‘Our goal is to make enterprise-grade tools accessible on a smartphone, raise standards of safety and service, and broaden the preparedness and participation of our partners in the rising AI economy.’

Grab said platform productivity is also calibrated, so active partners at least eight hours a day can hit family-sustaining income levels. Many surpass that benchmark based on active hours, time of day, service type, and demand patterns.

Meanwhile, Move It rider-partner and community leader Nica ‘Khang’ Brieta shared how her earnings as a moto-taxi rider has enabled her to fund her education and that of her sister. ‘Dahil po sa kita ko sa Move It, napag-aral ko po ang aking sarili pati ang aking kapatid. Nasisiguro ko rin na natutustusan ko ang medikal na pangangailangan ng aking anak, na napakahalaga para sa akin bilang isang solo parent. Sa Move It, empowered kaming mga kababaihan na makipagsabayan sa kalsada para kumita nang patas para sa aming mga pamilya.’

To align earnings with flexibility in social protection, partners can choose which programs to contribute to and when. At the Asenso Center, enrollment counters for SSS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth sit alongside onboarding and skills assessments, and private coverage is available on an opt-in basis, allowing workers to tailor benefits to their needs. For top performers, Grab and Move It subsidize Pag-IBIG contributions and provide free life-insurance coverage in addition to the standard on-trip insurance.

‘Professionalization and protection go hand-in-hand. From safety training and service standards to modular benefits and on-trip coverage, the Asenso Center helps driver-partners build sustainable, future-proof livelihoods,’ Move It General Manager Wayne Jacinto said.

Grab said AI follows four simple rules: it must improve safety, protect privacy, keep people in control, and be easy to learn. That means tested features that encourage safer behavior and fair reviews, data minimization with in-app controls, human override on all AI-suggestions, and bite-sized tutorials so drivers and merchants can use AI confidently to lift earnings and service quality.

‘AI should reward effort, and not replace it,’ Roda said. ‘Our responsibility is to lower the barrier to entry for the AI economy, protect user trust, and ensure Filipino workers and MSMEs capture the upside.’

The Commission on Elections is set to issue show-cause orders against 27 government contractors who allegedly donated to the campaign of senatorial candidates during the 2022 elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued the certification from a list of 54 names submitted by the poll body as government contractors.

He explained that the rest are not government contractors and therefore not covered by the prohibition under the Omnibus Election Code.

Instructions have already been given to the Political Finance and Affairs Department to release the show cause orders to the 27 identified contractors.

‘After they respond, we will also require the candidates who received donations from the 27 contractors to explain,’ Garcia said in Filipino.

Efforts are now underway to determine which candidates benefited from these campaign contributions, he added.

Garcia clarified that Lawrence Lubiano – who admitted to contributing P30 million to Sen. Chiz Escudero’s campaign – was not among those certified by the DPWH as a government contractor.

‘He is not a corporation, which is why the DPWH did not include him in its certification,’ he said.

Another list containing 31 contractors who donated during the May 2025 elections has been forwarded to the DPWH for verification, he added.

Voter listup suspended

In a separate announcement, voter registration activities will be suspended starting noon today (Oct. 30) until Nov. 2 in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The Comelec said the pause in registration is meant to honor the solemn tradition and give Filipinos time to pray for their departed loved ones.

The national voter registration period will resume after the holidays and continue until May 18, 2026, ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Through the seven-month registration drive, the poll body hopes to enlist around 1.4 million new registrants nationwide.